Kappas at FAMU Suspended Over Hazing Allegation

By A'sia Horne-Smith
Black College Wire

Photo credit: Curtis Blue Jr./ the Famuan Sam Hamilton, national grand polemarch, said, "Kappa Alpha Psi has a zero tolerance of any behavior involving hazing. It's something that has no place."

After allegedly beating and hospitalizing a pledge, the Alpha Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. has been suspended from Florida A&M University.

Marcus Jones, 20, a sophomore environmental science student from Decatur, Ga., was allegedly beaten with canes on four nights while pledging to become a member of the fraternity.

Jones' father, Mark Jones, a master sergeant in the Army, reported the incident to the Tallahassee Democrat, saying one of the wounds required 25 stitches.

Mark Jones "said the incident apparently involved 26 pledges and occurred sometime during the last week of February," the newspaper reported.

"'Because of the severe beatings he had taken, his right buttocks looked like a purple volleyball, and there was so much swelling some of the skin literally died,' Mark Jones said. . . . 'Imagine a 3-by-3 (inch) area and all of the skin taken off down to the fatty tissue.'"

The Leon County Sheriff's Office has taken over the case because, Det. Brice Google said, part of the incident might have taken place off-campus.

"It is an ongoing investigation. We're following up on multiple leads," Google said.

LeNedra Carroll, FAMU director of university relations and public affairs, said the vice president and the dean of students issued the Kappas a cease-and-desist order.

"It basically means that this chapter is not allowed to sponsor any events, hold any events (or) wear any paraphernalia of any kind while this investigation is taking place," Carroll said. "In other words, they are not active and they are not recognized on campus at this time."

The length of the organization's suspension has not been determined.

"I can't say with any certainty what the duration will be. With it being under investigation, the university will await the results of the complete investigation," Carroll said. "We won't speculate or guess about what we need to do. We will await those results. Our concern is that the young man who was injured in the alleged incident is recuperating," she said.

"Secondly, we want to make it very clear that hazing is not condoned, supported (or) tolerated here at Florida A&M University. It's illegal; it's against the law."

Sam Hamilton, the fraternity's national grand polemarch, said, "Kappa Alpha Psi has a zero tolerance of any behavior involving hazing. It's something that has no place."

Hamilton said the Kappas were concerned about Jones' health and were cooperating with police. Hamilton said the organization would conduct its own investigation.

Sherri Luke, crime prevention officer for the FAMU Police Department, has held workshops explaining the hazing laws at the university.

Under Florida Statute 1006.63, hazing can be a third-degree felony.

"Hazing is any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, not limited to, the initiation or mission into or a affiliation with any organization, " she said.

Luke said whipping and beating are not the only ways to commit hazing: Branding, sleep deprivation and forcing individuals to withstand extreme weather conditions are also considered violations.

"If it affects the dignity or mental health of the student, it meets the perimeters of hazing," Luke said. "If you have to ask, then it usually is."

"Hazing has been a dangerous, difficult-to-suppress ritual on many college campuses," the Democrat noted. "A University of Miami student, Chad Meredith, drowned in 2001 in a Kappa Sigma hazing, and his parents fought for the 2005 state law with stricter penalties.

"That same year, FAMU student Marcus Parker suffered kidney failure after a severe paddling initiation to play in FAMU's Marching 100 band and later won a $1.8 million civil verdict.

"In 1999, the Florida State University's Marching Chiefs' drum major and a saxophone player were kicked out of the band for hazing that included paddling of second-year band students."

Members of the Alpha Xi Chapter said they would be unavailable for comment until the investigation concludes.

A'sia Horne-Smith, a student at Florida A&M University, writes for the Famuan. She can be contacted at [email protected]

Posted March 20, 2006